Cap forming apparatus



NOV. 3, 1953 K|wAD CAP FORMING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 4, 1951 JNVENTOR. I [54 DOPE IfIWAD w. mm

0 III Nov. 3, 1953 w D 2,657,839 CAP FORMING APPARATUS 7 Filed Jan. 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 .118 Jag 1 IN V EN T 0R [5/1 00/95 K1 WAD FIG6.

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Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,657,839 CAP FORMING APPARATUS Isadore Kiwad, Westwood, N. J. Application January 4, 1951, Serial No. 204,367 3'Claims- (Cl.223-12) the blank is drawn and stretched over a shaping Figure 5 is a fragmentary partly sectioned elevation similar to that of Figure 3, except that the draw-wire has now been drawn to further shape the cap blank.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the draw-wire, its

taken on plane actuating solenoids and the circuit diagram and forming die member in the presence of heat and moisture, so that the entire cap body is formed in a single operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide and common contour of a'cap.

Still another object of the invention is to pro- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the deviceshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partly sectioned elevational View similar to that'of Figure 1, except that the parts and the cap blank having been drawn and stretched.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan viewtaken on plane 4-4 of Figure 3.

thereof. v

In the manufacture of headwear, such as caps, importance that all operations be performed with the highest speed, smallest requirement for useof manual labor, and automatically to th throughout the several views.

As illustrated, there is a base member or table H], which supported upon legs, able frame members. leg members l2 and I4 not shown, or other suit- A pair of spaced upright are secured to the upper I 0 by "means of screws or wall or web 24 interconnects the upper ends of the two legs 12 and M, and completes the formation of the U-shaped yoke member 26 which is stationary and mounted upon the 30 is welded to two wall lower flanges 36 of which of bolts 38 to the central A hydraulic cylinder members '32 and .34 the ters the cylinder through pipe 46. A motor as is connected to power lines through wires 59 and 52, which may be disconnected by opening switch 54 when desired. The motor 48 drives a pump 56 which is coupled thereto by shaft 58, the pump turning continuously in one direction, so that hydraulic fluid moves through the pipe 66 to the pump and moves out of the pump through pipe 62 in the directions indicated by the arrows 64. A reversing valve 66 forms a common junction for the pipes 44, 46, 60 and 62, and when the valve is in one position, pipes 62 and 46 are in communication with each other so that fluid flows from pipe 62 to pipe 46, and enters the cylinder 30 from the top, pushing the piston downwards. At the same time, the reversing valve 66 has effected communication between pipes 44 and 60, so that the hydraulic fluid can leave the cylinder below the piston and flow to the pump 56. This moves the plunger shaft 42 downwards from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 3, carrying with it to lower position, the upper die 68, the top wall I of which is secured to the flange 12 of the hydraulic plunger by means of bolts 14.

Integral guide rods 16 extend upwards from the top wall of the upper die, and slide smoothly through the guide holes 18 in the yoke web wall 24, thus blocking relative turning of the upper die while movement upwards and downwards takes place, and maintaining its registry relative to the lower die. When the valve 66 is reversed, then pipes 46 and 60 are interconnected, and similarly pipes 44 and 64 are brought into communication. This causes the fluid to enter the cylinder 30 from below the piston, elevating the plunger 42 and the upper die, moving it back to original position shown in Figure I.

The upper die has frusto-conical side walls 80 terminating at their lower end in an annular flange 82, to the undersurface of which is secured by bolts 84, the annular draw-string ring member 86 for movement therewith. It is seen that the ring member 86 has an annular groove 88 formed in its inner surface, the contour of the groove being substantially V-shaped as seen in sectional elevation in Figure 1, and a drawwire or string 00 extends around the inside of the entire V-shaped groove so as to be normally seated therein when in extended position as shown in Figure l. The ends 92 and 84 of this flexible wire 90 extends outwards through the two radial bores 96 and 98 respectively, of the grooved annular block or ring 86, being secured at their outer ends to the solenoid plungers I00 and I02 of the solenoid coils I04 and I06. Wires I08 and IIII connect the solenoid coils to a source of electric power, such as a battery I I2, through a switch I I4, so that upon closing the switch, energizlng the solenoids, their plungers are then drawn in opposite directions, as seen in Figure 7, pulling with them the opposite ends of the draw wire 80, and drawing the loop formed by the to make the effective diameter of the loop smaller. Upon opening the switch II4, the springs H6 and H8 pull the plungers toward each other, allowing the wire loop to be increased in diameter, and to once again seat in the V groove in the block ring 86.

A lower die I20, which is shaped to the desired contour of the cap body, or any other article which it is desired to form, is mounted on a circular base I22, which in turn is secured to the support member I24, the latter being secured to the upper surface of the table I0 so as to be relatively stationary. An annular V-shaped groove I26 is formed in the perimeter of the base I22, to match or complement the larger V-shaped groove 88 in the upper block ring 86.

A lower annular block ring I28 having a central opening I30 is disposed below the upper block ring 86 and co-axially therewith, being mounted for vertical motion between the position shown in Figure 1 and the position shown in Figure 2, the ring I28 being in contact with the table I0 in the latter view. Rods I32 are threaded at their upper ends into recesses I34 formed in the undersurface of the ring I28 for movement therewith, and are slidable smoothly through bores I36 formed in guide posts or bearings I38. Springs I40 encircle the rods I32, and extend at their upper ends into recesses as shown, in the undersurface of the ring I28 so as to exert upward bias on the ring. At their lower ends, the springs I40 extend into enlargements I44 01! the bores I36, so as to be supported thereby.

A can blank I45 of sheet material suitable for making caps, such as felt, fabric, or other material, having been previously steamed to soften the same, is placed on the ring I28 in the position shown in Figure 1, so as to overlie the central opening of the ring. Electrical heating wires I48 or other heating means are disposed inside the lower die I20, as shown in Figure l, to heat the same, so as to act on the cap blank I46. The valve 66 is turned so as to depress the upper die 68, the ring 86 moving downwards with it so as to resiliently grip the marginal portions of the cap blank I46 between rings 86 and I28. As the rings 86 and I28 move downwards with the upper die 68, the blank I46 is drawn and stretched around the lower die, while being subjected to heat therefrom, so as to assume the contour shown in Figure 3, the margins of the blank being drawn out from between the rings 86 and I28 in the process.

Then the operator closes the switch II4, energizing the solenoids I04 and I06, pulling the ends 82 and 84 of the draw wire outwardly as seen in Figures 5 and '7, making the diameter of its loop smaller, and pulling or gathering in the lower portion of the partly shaped cap blank I46. It is seen from Figure 5 that the V-shaped grooves 88 and the same horizontal plane, and the draw wire pulls the cap blank portion into the V groove I26, so as to be further shaped thereby while the heat is applied to the blank, for about three minutes.

The switch H4 is then opened, allowing the draw wire 90 to resume its expanded size, and the valve 66 is reversed so as to allow fluid to enter the hydraulic cylinder 30 through pipe 44, elevating the upper die 68 and allowing the ring I28 to rise also. The now shaped cap body is removed from the lower die I20, and its lower edges I50 may be trimmed off as desired, and the cap finished off by attachment of the sweatband and cap front. It will be understood of course, that the die I20 may be shaped to form the entire cap body and visor from a single blank in one operation as shown in my Patent No. 2,068,235, dated January 19, 1937, in which event the entire cap is produced even more quickly. It is seen that by molding my cap in this manner, I eliminate the need for seams and a lining, and make the cap much lighter than usual.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It will also be understood that it is desirable to steam and heat the blank I46 prior to the shaping mediate portion formed into a loop which is nor operations, so as to make it soft and pliable. mally seated in said second annular recess I claim: formed in said upper ring, and adapted when l. A cap making device comprising a table, a said upper ring is brought downwards into the lower die shaped to the contour of a cap and lower die, rods secured to said lower cap blank pulling force on said ends of said draw wires, supporting ring and slidably engaging said versaid draw Wire loop normally resiliently enlarges ticalbearing members for vertical movement with a ow a d Sh p d b nk to be W said lower ring relative to said table, spring drawn from said lower die.

means acting between said lower ring and said 2. The construction according to claim 1 table to bias said lower ring in an upward diwherein electrically actuated means are provided rection, so that a cap blank of sheet material for exerting pulls on said end of said draw wire may be disposed on said lower ring above said n opposite directions to constrict S d 100D.

lower die, a frame mounted on said table, an 3. Th c n ruc i n acc rdm t claim 1 upper die having a downwardly open recess wherein said power actuated means for normally formed therein supported by said frame, an upma ntammg said upper die and said uppe rlng per ring carried by and movable with said upper n pp r p sition nd m v n s id pp r ie n said lower die and said lower ring, and for movper die for mov ment w a d p a yand lower ring downwards, so as to draw and motion thereofstretch said blank over said lower die to par- ISADORE KIWAD. tially shape said blank whereby the top portion thereof assumes the contour of the upper References Cited in the file of this patent portion and means adapted for engaging the skirt UNITED STATES PATENTS portion of said partially shaped blank for draw-- Number Name ate ing the same inwards into contact with the lower 540,219 Elckemeyer y 28, 1895 portion of said lower die so as to be shaped thew 1,223,665 uckman Apr. 24, 1917 by, and means for releasing said engaging means; 2,624,495 Vlckers et Jan. 1953 said means adapted for engaging the skirt portion of said partially shaped blank and for draw- FOREIGN PATENTS ing the same comprising a draw wire of resilient Number Country Date material having two ends and with its inter- 20,242 Great Britain 1907 

